Elizabeth McQueen, age 13, of Wilmington, Del., for her question:
WHO DISCOVERED GREENLAND?
Greenland is the largest island in the world. An internally self governing territory of Denmark, Greenland is situated between the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans. It was first explored by Eric the Red, a Norwegian settler in Iceland and father of Leif Ericson, toward the end of the 10th century.
Icelandic settlements were subsequently established there under Eric's leadership. By the early 15th century, however, these settlements had vanished and all contact with Greenland was lost. In the course of the search for the Northwest Passage, Greenland was rediscovered. The English navigator John Davis visited the island in 1585.
The foundation of Danish rule was laid by a mission at Godthab in 1721 by a Norwegian missionary named Hans Egede.
In the 19th century Greenland was explored and mapped by numerous explorers and navigators.
From 1930 to 1931, British and German expeditions made weather observations on the inland ice north of the Arctic Circle. And in 1933, an American expedition sponsored by the University of Michigan and Pan American Airways engaged in meteorological research more than 340 miles north of the Arctic Circle.
The United States relinquished its claim to land in northern Greenland, based on the discoveries made by the American explorer Robert Peary, when it purchased the Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1917.
in May 1921 Denmark declared the entire island of Greenland to be Danish territory, causing a dispute with Norway over hunting and fishing rights. In 1931 a strip of land on the east cost was claimed by some Norwegians and later recognized by the Norwegian government. The occupation, however, was invalidated by the Permanent Court of International Justice in 1933.
German's occupation of Denmark in 1940, during World War II, brought the status of Greenland into question. Negotiations between the U.S. government and the Danish ministry to Washington resulted in an agreement on April 9, 1941, granting the U.S. the right to construct, maintain and operate landing fields, seaplane facilities and radio and meteorological installations. This was done as a way to protect the status quo in the western hemisphere.
At the same time the U.S. assumed protective custody over Greenland for the duration of World War II, although recognizing Danish sovereignty.
In May 1947 Denmark requested that the U.S. end the 1941 agreement. Protracted negotiations culminated in April 1951 in a 20 year pact providing for Danish control of the chief U. S. naval station in Greenland and for the establishment of jointly operated defense areas. By the terms of other provisions, the armed forces of the members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization were authorized to use all naval, air and military bases on the island.
In 1979 Greenland attained home rule. In 1982, Greenlanders voted by a narrow margin to withdraw from the European Community. Withdrawal was completed by early 1985.